Vermont is getting $6.3 million in federal Homeland Security grants to help the state develop prevention and preparedness programs to respond to acts of terrorism and other catastrophic events.

U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy said the grants will come from two Homeland Security programs.

A $3.4 million homeland security grant will help support the implementation of strategies to plan, organize, train and equip first-responder agencies who would be called upon in the event of an act of terrorism or other disasters.

A second grant of just under $3 million will help Vermont and local governments prepare for disasters and hazards.